Blue Jays 40-man Roster Review: Tommy Nance put up respectable numbers after an early-August trade

Out of the Toronto Blue Jays relievers added in the second half of the season, Tommy Nance certainly wasn’t the worst.

This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual 40-man Roster Review, where we look at the players on the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster. We’ll look at how the player performed in 2024, his season projections for the 2025 season, and any storylines heading into this coming season. In this article, we’ll look at Tommy Nance.

In Aug. 2024, the Blue Jays traded cash considerations to the San Diego Padres for reliever Tommy Nance. Going undrafted, Nance pitched in the Independent Frontier League before signing with the Chicago Cubs before the 2016 season. The right-handed pitcher made his debut with them in 2021, where he had a 7.22 ERA and a 5.02 FIP in 28.2 innings pitched, along with a 23.6 K% and a 10.2 BB%.

Before the 2022 season began, Nance was claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins, authoring a respectable 4.33 ERA and a 3.71 FIP in 43.2 innings pitched, with a 29.1 K% and a 10.7 BB%. Due to injury, Nance didn’t pitch in 2023 and was eventually designated for assignment in the autumn of 2023. Shortly after, the Padres signed him to a minor-league deal where he spent parts of the next two seasons before the Blue Jays traded for him.

Nance really wasn’t that bad for a dismal Blue Jays bullpen in 2024. Last season, Nance had a 4.09 ERA and a 3.98 FIP in 22 innings pitched, with a 20.4 K% and a 9.7 BB%. The right-handed pitcher was hit around towards the end of the season but had a 2.87 ERA and a 4.32 FIP through his first 15.2 innings pitched.

Fangraphs’ projection models project he’ll have the same type of season in 2025. His best projection is from OOPSY, which has him posting a 3.84 ERA and a 3.98 FIP in 55 innings. Nance’s worst projection is from ATC, which has him posting a 4.17 ERA and a 3.92 FIP in 41 innings pitched. As for Steamer, the model projects he’ll have a 4.06 ERA and a 4.09 FIP in 55 innings pitched. You’ll take that in low-leverage relief.

There is one unfortunate thing about Nance for the Blue Jays – he has no option years remaining. Nance has to make the Blue Jays 26-man roster out of Spring Training or he’ll be placed on waivers. With respectable results in 2024 and more respectable projections for the 2025 season, Nance provides the Blue Jays with valuable depth for their bullpen.